Improvement in india-rubber and leather soles



"I FFI C l] w LEIVIS ELLIOTT, JR, OF NEYV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN INDIA-RUBBER AND LEATHER SOLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,623, dated October 9, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Lucas ELLIoTT, J r., of

the city and county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Attaching India-Rubber to Sole-Leather for Soles for Shoes and Boots; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction, character, and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the under side of the sole, showing the form, &c., of the india-rubber and the leather when ready for use or sale. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper side of the sole-leather, showing the ends of the india-rubber rivets or fasteners.

My invention consists in a water-proof sole forboots and shoesformed oftwo thicknessesone of india-rubber, the other of leather-the two being firmly united by vuleanizing the rubber by heat after it has been cemented to the leather, said heating taking place while the rubber and leather are confined within a mold and under a powerful pressure, so that the leather and rubber become so firmly conneeted that they cannot be separated. I leave the edges of the leather sole exposed, so that the same may be attached to the boot or shoe by sewing, nailing, or otherwise. Thus I obtain all the firmness, solidity, and strength of the leather, in addition to the durability and water-proof properties of the india-rubber. Said sole thus becomes a new article of manut'acture.

I out out a piece of sole-leather, of a suitable size for a half-sole or tap for a boot or shoe, as shown at A, Fig. 2 5 and, by means of any suitable instrument, I roughen the under side, so as to allow the india-rubber cement to properl y penetrate into the pores of the surface of the leather; and I punch a series of small holes through the leather, a little within the margin of what is to be covered by the india-rubber, so that the rubber will press through the holes and operate like rivets to secure the indiarubber sole more firmly to the sole-leather,-as shown at a a, &c., Fig. 2. I then coat the roughened surface of the sole-leather with indiarubber cement, and place on it a piece of india-rubber of the desired shape, size, and thickness for the water-proof sole, as shown at B, Fig. 1, leaving a suitable margin of the sole-leather outside of the india rubber all around for sewing, pegging, or nailing it to the shoe or boot, as may be desired, as shown at l) b, 850., Fig. 1. I then place the india rubber port-ion in a suitable former or mold, in such a position that the soleleather surface will be outward. I then clamp or look two or more of such molds together, (with a suitable plate between the two leather surfaces,) and tighten the clamps or form by wedges or other wise, so as to cause intense pressure. In this situation I place them in the 'ulcanizing-oven and subject them to the proper degree of heat for vulcanizing-say about 290 -in the usual way and for the usual time, when they will be ready for use or market, as represented in Fig. 1 for the outer side and in Fig. 2 for theinner side.

I have no doubt but that the adhesion of the india-rubber to the sole-leather will be suf fieient for all purposes, without the beforementioned holes and rivets, (indicated at a a, &c., Fig. 2,) simply by the cement, pressure, and heat; but I recommend the use of the holes and rivets as an additional safety at all times.

These waterproof soles may be made for the whole length of the shoe or boot, and be used on new work as well as old work, if desired.

One of the advantages of my improvement consists in that if the indiarubber gets worn through or cut through by accident, the firm leather sole will still sustain the shoe in at least as good order as any leather sole can.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

A waterproof sole for boots and shoes formed of two thicknesses-one of i11d ia-rubher or its compounds, the other of leatherthe two being united firmly in the manner specified.

LEWIS ELLIOTT, JR Witnesses 1t. FITZGERALD, HENRY HoTcHKLss. 

